5 Reasons Why Tim Tebow Will Be An NFL Bust

It was Tim Tebow who stole the show at the NFL Combine, which wrapped up on Tuesday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. He addressed the media, when few others would, saying all the right things. He impressed with his natural athletic ability – running a 4.72 in the 40 and showing off his 38.5 inch vertical. But without ever actually throwing a pass, was the 2-time National Champion able to sway the scouts, his critics and the rest of the country into believing he has what it takes to make it as a quarterback in the NFL?

TSJ’s not so sure.

There's No Questioning Tebow's Athleticism

One thing you can’t question is Tebow’s heart and resolve. It seems like anything this guy puts his mind to, he achieves. He’s a tremendous leader and an inspiration to his teammates and coaches. When you consider all that he’s accomplished and the fact that it’s been a dream of his since Age 6 to play quarterback in the NFL, it becomes pretty tough to bet against the former Heisman Trophy winner to succeed in the “Show” – even if his stock drops to the point where he becomes a 3rd round pick in next month’s NFL draft.

Still, there are more questions than answers at this point surrounding Tebow. I’ve always had the sense watching him in college that he doesn’t have the style necessary to succeed in the NFL. In my opinion, he’s the football equivalent to a Duke basketball player – a terrific athlete who was asked to use his multitude of skills to help create a winning system. Only one problem. While Florida’s system helped Tebow become one of the greatest college quarterbacks to ever play, the spread offense used down in Gainesville doesn’t really translate to the National Football League (Reason 1). As a result, it exposes tremendous weaknesses in Tebow’s game as it relates to his ability to play in the NFL – from his slow and elongated throwing motion (2), to his potential inability to make quick reads in the pocket (3) after playing the past four years under Coach Urban Meyer at Florida.

Did Meyer Do Tebow a Disservice at Florida?

So while the world waits for Pro Day on March 17 to finally see Tebow unveil his newly adapted pro-style “2.0″ throwing motion, it remains to be seen if this “quicker” delivery will even hold up when he has three 275-pound lineman bearing down on him in the pocket (4). I certainly have my doubts.

Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt – who knows a thing or two about having a former Heisman Trophy winning flop as his quarterback – went on the record this past week at the Combine saying that any team looking to draft Tebow should be willing to “redshirt” him for at least 2-3 years (5). Perhaps that’s Whiz’s way of getting other teams to lay off drafting him, but I don’t buy that. Tebow’s game isn’t there yet. And who’s to say it ever will be? And that’s the biggest question mark surrounding Tebow. Sure, in my heart, I don’t want to bet against him. He’s the kinda guy you want to cheer for. But my head says, despite his athleticism and smarts, can this guy genuinely adapt his style and learn the pro game at this point of his career?

After Pat White was drafted by Miami early in the 2nd round last year to help with their wildcat offense, experts are predicting some team will take a similar shot on Tebow in this year’s draft somewhere between the second and third rounds. Maybe it’ll be Jacksonville – Tebow’s hometown, where he’s already a fan favourite after playing his storied college career just 70 miles down the road. He could potentially boost sagging ticket sales for a franchise where the incumbent QB, David Garrard, has struggled with inconsistency and injuries over the past two years.

Flutie's Success in Canada Led Him Back to the NFL

Personally, I believe the best fit right now for Tebow is the Canadian Football League. Why try to fit a square peg (Tebow) in a round hole (NFL)? Tebow would thrive in the CFL’s wide-open passing game, which favours mobile quarterbacks who can run the ball and throw on the run. Other quarterbacks who weren’t initially deemed NFL-worthy have made the move to Canada – and back – with tremendous results. Stars like Warren Moon, Doug Flutie and Jeff Garcia. Rather than hold a clipboard for the next two or three years down south, a starting job north of the border would afford Tebow immediate playing time and a chance to impress scouts much like his aforementioned predecessors did.

Is the thought of Tebow actually playing in the CFL just a pipe dream? Well, maybe not. The man currently responsible for helping Tebow with his “2.0″ revamped throwing delivery is none other than Montreal Alouettes Head Coach Marc Trestman. With an aging QB of their own in Anthony Calvillo, the Als quietly placed Tebow a month ago on their ‘confidential negotiation list’, meaning that should he ever decide to play in the CFL, Montreal would retain exclusive signing rights. Granted, I think the CFL needs Tebow more than he needs them. But he’d immediately become a bonafide superstar in a league desperate for one. All of a sudden, the notion of Tebow heading north to play doesn’t seem so far fetched after all.

Maybe that’s all a man of his talents needs in order to truly realize his dreams of being a starting NFL quarterback. A trip through Canada first.